Akantheus Leucious Forneus was back, and he would not be contained.
Not by anyone for any reason. Thorn was gone now. He was the tool Noir had wanted him to be, and he was ready to destroy any- and everyone who came near him.
As soon as he was free of his cell, he saw a demon who shrank back, cowering at his approach. That was mother’s milk to him. He drank the demon’s fear like a fine brandy.
“Where’s Paimon?” he growled.
“I don’t know, my lord.”
Too bad. Thorn ripped him to pieces and smiled at the sound of his dying agony. That was what he needed. The sound of misery to keep him company.
But he was far from finished.
There were more victims waiting for him. Many, many more.
First though, he had one in particular he wanted to beat.
One who’d created him and left him to wallow this state.
Determined to rip apart his father, he headed for Noir’s throne room.
His wings sprang out from his back as he flew into the room where his father was busy plotting with Azura.
Both of them turned toward him with a stern glower.
His father came to his feet “How dare …” His voice trailed off. “Thorn?”
“Forneus,” he growled. “Thorn’s dead.”
Azura and Noir exchanged a confused stare an instant before Forneus rushed his father.
Noir sent a god-bolt at him, but it didn’t do any good. He caught the bolt and sent it straight back at Noir.
“You wanted a weapon … I am one.” And he was done being controlled. Grabbing his father, he threw Noir through a wall.
Azura shrieked as she came at his back.
Forneus caught her, then backhanded her. She fell away from him.
When Noir started toward him, Forneus hit him with another god-bolt. “Don’t,” he growled. “For once, you’re going to do my bidding.”
And he was about to show the gods what a real warrior was capable of.
38
October 31, 2334
Shadow popped into the living room of akri’s New Orleans house where Simi was lying on the floor with her legs stretched up along the wall. Simi frowned as she realized Shadow stood between her and her barbecue-flavored popcorn.
That was never a good place to be.
So she arched a brow. “Problem?”
“I’ve found Thorn.”
Oh! In that case, she’d forgive Shadow for blocking her popcorn since he brought such happy news. “Where is he?”
“Raining hell all over the human world.”
